Stapling machine



Oct. 18, 1966 w. SCHAFROTH ETAL' 3,279,673

STAPLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1964 [mpg-#7025: IVER/K62 50741-79077! ANTHONY E. Cfl/RHTT/ Oct. 18, 1966 w. SCHAFROTH A 3,279,673

STAPLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 5, 1964 FIG 2 Oct. 18, 1966 w. SCHAFROTH ETAL 3,279,673

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 66 [AWE/V7428:

meme/e sa/mrmn/ ANTHONY 7E. Cn/mrrr United States Patent 3,279,673 STAPLING MACHINE Werner Schafroth, P.O. Box 247, Herrin, Ill., and Anthony E. Cairatti, Herrin, 11].; said Cairatti assignor to said Schafroth Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,418 Claims. (Cl. 227-85) This invention relates in general to stapling machines. and means for feeding staple elements to the staple forming and driving mechanism. In particular, this invention relates to a stapling machine of the retractable anvil type having an improved cartridge for holding a large number of straight staple elements in a roll, said straight staple elements being fed to pre-forming dies and then to a stapling mechanism.

This invention represents a practical improvement over the stapling machines and magazines heretofore used, such as shown in Schafroth Patent No. 2,897,750 dated Augmst 4, 1959 and other prior Schafroth stapling machine patents.

In the past, it has been common practice to drive preformed staplesin clips with retractable anvil stapling machines. With high speed production requiring the closing of many cartons in each unit of time, the magazines required frequent reloading or had to be of a very long length. Even long magazines required frequent reload- In the past, stapling machines have been made to utilize staple elements which can be rolled in spiral form, so that thousands of staple elements occupy only a relatively small space in a cylindrical cartridge. such prior stapling machines is that the first staple element is not properly pre-formed into a staple before it is driven by the driving blade, thereby resulting in a mutilated staple and sometimes a jammed machine. Another difficulty is that t-hedriving blade must not only drive the staple, but must also break the bond between the staple and the staple belt, of which it formed a portion thereof.

One of the principal, objects of the present invention is to provide a stapling machine having a separate removable cartridge having tape which is removed from straight staple elements before they are fedto pre-forming dies and then to a retractable anvil stapling mechanism. Such a cartridge might contain 1,000 or more staple elements. Another object is to provide a stapling machine wherein the first staple which is driven by the driving blade is pre-formed and driven properly without jamming the machine. Another object is to provide a machine in which there is a stop plate to stop the first staple element at a position under the forming die, thereby'forming said staple element into a staple at a point prior to the staple driving position. Another object is to provide a stapling machine utilizing a cartridge having a roll of staple elements therein in a retractable anvil machine of the type previously used and proven.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for staple elements which feed only the elements themselves therefrom and does not feed the fastening means or tape which is used to maintain the staple elements in belt form. Another object is to provide a cartridge which strips the tape from the staple elements before issuing said elements from the cartridge to the preforming dies. A still further objectis to provide a'staple belt of straight staple elements having removable tape thereon along one surface, so that said tape may be removed before-the staple elements are formed into staples. A further object is to provide a roll of staple forming elements connected by tape which moves unconnected staple forming elements forwardly to the stapling machine.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

One difi'iculty with ice The present invention is embodied in a stapling machine of the retractable anvil type having a removable cartridge of staple elementsin roll form, said cartridge issuing individual unconnected staple elements from the cartridge to a pre-forming position under a pre-forming die, then to a transitory position, and then to a position where the pre-formed staple is directed beneath the driving blade and is ready to be driven and clinched by retractable anvils. The invention is also embodied in the cartridge having. a roll of staple elements therein with tape which is removed therefrom before the staples are formed and driven.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and wherein like numerals and symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a stapling machine, cartridge, and staple element roll embodying the present invention, most of the machine and cartridge shown in cross-section along a central longitudinal line,

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1, i

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partly in cross section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the.

operating handle, driving blade, anvils, and pre-forming die in their lower or clinching position,

"FIG. 5 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the forming block and retainer,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch arrangement for the spool shaft,

, FIG. 7 is an end. view of said clutch arrangement,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly broken, showing a cartridge embodying the present invention,

FIG; 9 is a front view of said cartridge showing the issuing slot for staple elements,

FIG. 10 isa perspective view, partly. broken, of a modified cartridge embodying the present invention,

FIG. 11 is a front view of said modified cartridge showing the issuing slot'for staple elements,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a staple element belt embodying. the present invention before it is rolled, and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a modified staple element belt before it is rolled and used in the present cartridge and stapling machine.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a stapling machine M with a removable cartridge C therein. The stapling machine M comprises a front housing 1 and a rear housing 2 with a stapling mechanism 3 therebetween. The front housing 1 is provided with a penetration control 4. These parts are similar in construction and operation to the equivalent parts shown in the prior Schafroth Patent No. 2,897,502 dated August 4, 1959. v

The front housing 1 has a rear face 5. The rear housing 2 has. afront face 6. The stapling mechanism 3 is mounted between the housings 1 and 2 and is actuated by a operating lever 7 connected thereto at 8, the forward end of said operating lever 7 being suspended on a pivotv pin 9 near the bottom of a link 10 which is free to pivot on a pin 11 secured to a handle casing 12 having a handle 13 with a handhole 14 in its upper portion. The operating lever 7 is connected to a yoke 15 and links 16 having 3 to control the, penetration depth of the anvils 18. The foregoing parts are similar in construction and operation to those shown and described in the Schafroth Patent No.

The housings 1 and 2 are mounted on a base plate 24. Side plates 25 are mounted between the rear housing 2 and base plate 24 and are adapted to hold a cartridge holder 26.: The stapling mechanism 3 includes a staple driving blade 27 in whatshall be called position No. 1, with a guideplate 28 rearwardly thereof in the transitory position called No. 2, and a forming die or punch 29 immediately rearwardly thereof in what shall be called position No. 3. The rear housing 2 is provided with a horizontal hold down plate 30 rearwardly of the guide plate 28 to hold down the straight staple elements B after they have issued from the cartridge C, at which time the staple elements E are in fiat but unconnected form. V

A forming block 31,'as best shown in FIG. 5,'is provided between two cartridge guides 32, each having a lower guide 33 for guiding the staple S when it is being driven. The forming block 31 has a forward slot 34 with a retainer 35 therein with a spring 36 therebetween. The retainer 35 has a horizontal portion 37 with a forwardly sloping surface 38 and two upstanding retainer portions 39. Behind the forming block 31 is mounted an antiback feed spring 40.

r The rear of the yoke holding the driving blade 27 has a lever arm 41 secured to the upper portion thereof in alignment with a lever 42 and ratchet arm 43. The ratchet arm 43 is connected to a sprocket '44 mounted on the square shaft 45. Clutch means 46 are mounted between the ratchet arm 43 and the sprocket 44. Each end of the ratchet arm 43' has a spring 47 extending upwardly.

The clutch means 46 may take the form of a sprocket 44 having teeth 48 therein with an engaging pawl 49,as

shown, or it may use any one of a number of clutch arrangements on the market. The purpose of the clutch means 46 is to rotate the sprocket 44 a few degrees after the ratchet arm 43 isrotated downwardly without rotat-. ing thesquare shaft 45 and said ratchet arm43 is then allowed to move upwardly under the force of the springs 47. allowing the pawl 49 to rotate the square shaft 45 a few degrees thereby winding the used tapeT on a spool and .feeding staple elements E vto the machine. The square shaft 45 has two detents 50 and 51 therein adapted to receive a lug 52 at different times. A wing nut 53 is provided on the end of the shaft 45, the other end fitting into a shaft retaining plug 54 which fits into a drive shaft 54a. The rear housing 2 is provided with a hold down bar 30 and a stop plate 55 which prevents the first staple element E from moving past its first position under the forming punch 29 since the stop plate 55 has an opening for receiving formed staples but not unformed staples. The machine illustrated in the drawings is operated by hand, but it can be power operated by adding a power unit such as shown in the Schafroth Design Patent No. D. 196,466 granted October 1, 1963 and in the Schafroth pending application Serial No. 279,834 filed May, 13, 1963 now Patent No. 3,191,841 issued June 29, 1965. In such an arrangement, the yoke 15 is secured to the piston rod extending from the piston inthe air or power cylinder.

The cartridge C, shown in FIGS..8 and 9, has locating pins 56 extending from a forward reversing roll 57 through the cartridge casing 58 into rearwardly opening slots in rearwardly extending side plates 25 on the rear housing 2. The cartridge C is provided with a mechanically driven used feed tape spool 61 having enlarged spool ends 62. The square shaft 45 is adapted to extend through the square opening in the spool 61.. The cartridge C has a core 63 around which the belt 64 of staple elements E is wound spirally outwardly until the last convolution 65 extends forwardly and upwardly along the sloping cartridge bottom 66 to an issuing slot 67 in the forward portion thereof. Turning the square shaft 45 causes the feed tape T to roll up on the spool 61',since it is secured thereto frictionally or with its end inserted in a slot on the spool, thereby pulling the belt 64 forwardly and automatically removing the tape T from theforward staple element E just before it issues from the slot 67 after the tape T has been removed from the top surface by the action of the stripper roll 57. The cartridge casing 58 may be from metal or plastic and is designed to be inexpensive and'thrown away after the staple elements B have been removed therefrom.-

A modified cartridge C, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is similar to that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 except that the staple elements E are provided with two pieces of tape.

T-2 near their outer edges instead of one central piece of,

tape T and the spool 61 has several enlarged spool, ends 62 to guide the tape T-2 as they are being wound up.

'The present machine uses straight angle elements E positioned in side-by-side contacting relationship. Each element E has a central crown forming portion 68 with a leg forming portion 69 on each end thereof adapted to be bent out of the plane of said crown forming portion68 along the lines 70, which form the two rounded upper.

corners of the staples. Each element E has a portion'of the strip of tape T contacting one surface thereof, as. best shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 which show the elements E in flat or belt form before being rolled into spiral roll 71 form, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 10.

Eachstaple element E is unconnected to the adjacent staple element, but each is contacted by the tape T along one surface thereof. The tape T is strong and has glue on the bottom thereof which sticksrto the tape T with greater force or adhesion than it sticks to the metal staple elements E. The tape T extends parallel to the edges72 of the staple elements E.- Pressure sensitive adhesive tape works satisfactorily. FIG. 12 shows the tape T along the central or crown forming portion .68. FIG. 13 shows two parallel pieces of tapeT-2,1relatively smaller in width, and secured to the leg forming portions 69 slighlty inwardly from the edges 72 thereof. 7

In operation, a cartridgeC is first inserted into the cartridge holder 26. This is done by placing the locating pins 56 in the slots provided therefor in the side brackets. The wing nut 53 is loosened and the square shaft '45 pulled laterally until the lug 52 enters the detent 50,.in

which position the cartridge C is free to be pivoted down-. wardly into the cartridge holder 26. The shaft 45 is then pushed rightwardly through the spool shaft 61 until the lug 52 moves into the other detent 51. The-.wing nut 53 is then rotated to roll the tape T up on the. spool 61 and to push the unconnected staple elements E forwardly out of the cartridge C under the hold down plate 30 to. position No. 3, beyond which the first staple element E cannot move sincethe end portions thereof strike the stop plate 55. The operating lever 7 isv then pushed down thereby preforming the firstunconnected staple element E into a staple S. The operating lever 7 is then released,1 thereby causing the second staple element to enter position No. 3 under the forming punch and forcing the first staple 1 to enter transistory position No. 2 in the central opening in the stop plate 55. The operating lever 7 is then again. depressed thereby forming the second staple; When the operating lever 7 is released, it causes the third staple to enter position No. 3 under the forming punch, thereby causing the second staple to move to position No. and the first staple to move to position No. 1. When the operating lever 7 is depressed for the third time, the first When the operating lever 7 moves downward, the lever;

arm actuator 41 contacts the lever 42 and rotates the ratchet arm 43 downwardly but does not rotate the square shaft 45 because of the clutch means 46. When the operating lever 7 is moved upwardly to its upper position shown in FIG. 1, the lever arm actuator 41 moves upwardly and the ratchet arm 43 is moved upwardly by force of the springs 47, thereby rotating the square shaft 45 because of the clutch means 46, that is, because of the pawl 49 engaging the teeth 48 and rotating the sprocket 44. The amount of rotation is suflicient to cause the staple belt 64 .to advance one staple element E. Thus, the square shaft 45 rotates only in one direction in short intermittent steps. It will be noted that as the square shaft 45 rotates to wind up the tape T, the last staple element E attached to the tape T or belt 64 is pulled forwardly by the tape T thereby pushing the unconnected staple elements E forwardly toward the forming punch 29 in position No. 3.

The retainer 35 simply retains a staple in position No. 2 and pushes it forward to position No. 1 after a staple has been driven and clinched and thedriving blade 27 moved upwardly. The forward surfaces of the retainer portions 39 simply retain a staple in position No. 1 under the driving blade 27 frictionally and ready to be driven. As the staple S is driven, it contacts the sloping surface 37 thereby driving the retainer 35 rearwardly against the action of the spring 36, so that its forward vertical surface is behind the staple which is formed in position No. 3 to force it forwardly.

In the event that the wing nut 53 is not rotated sufficiently to move the unconnected staple elements E against the stop plate 55, the lever arm actuator 41 will depress the lever 42 and ratchet arm 43 more degrees downwardly than it does thereafter during each individual stroke. However, once the first staple element E contacts the stop plate 55 then the ratchet arm 43 pivots only a limited number of degrees.

The present invention has the advantage of having at least 1,000 and up to 5,000, staple elements in a removable and replaceable cartridge, which can be easily removed from the machine when empty. A new cartridge can be inserted very easily. The parts are arranged so that the driving blade cannot drive a staple element thereby jamming or damaging the machine, but can only drive a formed staple. This is accomplished by providing stop means for the staple elements at the forming die, thereby preventing staple elements, or unformed staples, from reaching a position under the staple driving blade.

Further, this invention uses the belt, i.e., staple elements with the tape thereon, to force the staple elements forwardly. The tape is removed from the staple elements before the staple elements reach the stapling mechanism, so that the driving bl-ade does not have to penetrate the tape or other fastening means. This allows all of the driving force to be used to drive and clinch a staple, in addition to forming another staple to be driven later. None of the driving force is expended to shear the tape. Also, since a free unconnected staple is positioned under the driving blade, there is no tendency for said staple to twist because of the tape. The tape is removed at the issuing slot in the forward portion of the cartridge and is wound on a spool the cartridge. Thus, the tape is merely a temporary fastening means to hold the staples in the desired relation.

The tape is shown in one relatively wide strip on the crown forming portion of a staple element in FIG. 12, and is shown in two narrower strips near the edges of the staple elements in FIG. 13. This latter arrangement provides for greater control of the staple elements, since it fixes said staple elements in their proper relationship near their edges. This prevents twisting and misalignment when placing the belt in roll form and when inserting the rool into a cartridge during manufacture and assembly. However, once the roll is properly po- 6 sitioned within the cartridge, as shown in FIGS; 8 and 10, either form gives satisfactory results.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A stapling machine having a stapling mechanism of the retractable anvil type having a removable cartridge with straight staple elements therein in roll form connected by means of tape, said cartridge having means therein for removing said tape from said staple elements therefrom and issuing individual unconnected straight staple elements from the cartridge to a preforming position under a pre-forming die in said stapling machine to form a staple, said cartridge having means therein for forcing said pre-formed staple to a transitory position and thereafter to a position beneath a driving blade in said stapling mechanism to drive said staple and clinch the same'with said retractable anvils.

2. A stapling machine of the retractable anvil type, said machine having a casing with a stapling mechanism therein, said machine having a removable cartridge of straight staple elements therein in roll form connected by means of tape, said cartridge having tape winding means therein for removing said tape from said staple elements and issuing individual unconnected straight staple elements from the cartridge to a pre-forming position under a pre-forming die in said stapling machine to form a staple and thereafter moving said pre-formed staple to a transitory position and thereafter to a position beneath a driving blade in said stapling mechanism to drive said staple and clinch the same with said retractable :anvils, said casing having means thereon movable upon each driving of a staple to rotate said tape winding means.

3. A stapling machine of the retractable anvil type having a removable cartridge containing straight staple elements in roll form connected by means of tape, said cartridge having means therein for removing said tape from said staple elements and winding said tape on rotatab'le means thereby issuing individual unconnected straight staple elements from the cartridge to a pre-forming position under a pre-forming die in said stapling machine to form a staple, said rotatable means thereafter causing said pre-formed staple tomove to a transitory position and thereafter to a position beneath a driving blade in said stapling machine to drive said staple and clinch the same with said retractable anvils, movable means on said machine for rotating said rotatable means upon the driving of a staple.

4. A stapling, machine having a stapling mechanism therein, said stapling mechanism having anvils which move below the lower edge of the machine and then retract into the machine, a housing on said machine for receiving a separate cartridge containing straight staple elements, said staple elements having tape thereon, means in said separate cartridge for removing said tape from the straight staple elements before said elements issue from said cartridge, winding means in said cartridge upon which said removed tape is wound, a pre-forming die connected to said stapling machine for forming a straight staple element into a staple, a transitory station for receiving said staple, and a driving station under :a staple driving blade in said stapling mechanism for driving and clinching said staple, and means on said machine for rotating said winding means when said staple driving blade is in motion.

5. A stapling machine having a stapling mechanism therein, said stapling mechanism having 'anvils which move below the lower edge of the machine to clinch a staple and then retract into the machine, a housing on said machine for receiving a separate cartridge containing straight staple elements in roll form, said staple 7 81 elements having/tape thereon; means in said separate References Cited by the, Applicant cartridge for removing said tape from the straight staple UNITED STATES PATENTS elements before said elements move out of said cartridge, winding means in said cartridge upon which the removed tape is wound, a pre-forming die connected to said stapling machine for forming a straight staple element into a staple having a crown and two legs, :a transitory station for receiving said pre-formed stap1e,1and a driving station under a staple driving blade in said stapling mechanism for driving rand'clinchin-g said staple, and means on said machine for rotating said winding means during 572,420 12/1896 Greenfield.

1,133,862. 3/1915 Hullings ,et a1. 1,442,857 1/ 1923 Claussen et a1. 1,746,496 2/1930 P-almgren. 1,761,640 16/1930 Palmgren. 2,137,467 11/ 1938 Vogel. 2,153,874 4/1939 Posnack. 2,174,708 10/1939 Sears 'et al. 2,422,641 6/1947 Hazewinkel.

each cycle of said stapling mechanism. 7 v I 5 12/1947 La g.

References Cited by the Examiner I t I t 1 1 1 1 6606 e '3. UNITED STATES PATENTS $2,714,207 8/1955 Lindstrorn. 2,014,726 9/1935 Flood 7 Q 2,345 2 r 3 1953 Lang 2397502 8/ 1959 Schafwth 2,928,094: 3/1960 Crooks et al. 2,938,212 5/1960 Lerner 227136 XR 2 95957 11 19 Patel-55am 3,009,156 ll/1961 lerner, 227-9j XR 20 3,029,436 4/1962 Kufel et 1. 227 108 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 313,035 11/1929 Great Britain.

FOREIGN PATENTS 321,751 11/1929 Great Britain;

838,265 5/1952 Germany; I p

677,070 8/1952 Great Britain. a GRANVILLE Y. ,CUSTER, JR.,- Primary Examiner. 

1. A STAPLING MACHINE HAVING A STAPLING MECHANISM OF THE RETRACTABLE ANVIL TYPE HAVING A REMOVABLE CARTRIDGE WITH STRAIGHT STAPLE ELEMENTS THEREIN IN ROLL FORM CONNECTED BY MEANS OF TAPE, SAID CARTRIDGE HAVING MEANS THEREIN FOR REMOVING SAID TAPE FROM SAID STAPLE ELEMENTS THEREFROM AND ISSUING INDIVIDUAL UNCONNECTED STRAIGHT STAPLE ELEMENTS FROM THE CARTRIDGE TO A PREFORMING POSITION UNDER A PRE-FORMING DIE IN SAID STAPLING MACHINE TO FORM A STAPLE, SAID CARTRIDGE HAVING MEANS THEREIN FOR FOCING SAID PRE-FORMED STAPLE TO A TRANSITORY POSITION AND THEREAFTER TO A POSITION BENEATH A DRIVING BLADE IN SAID STAPLING MECHANISM TO DRIVE SAID STAPLE AND CLINCH THE SAME WITH SAID RETRACTABLE ANVILS. 